Although it may not seem like it, your puppy’s first year will fly by and the tiny pup will quickly mature into an adult dog.
One of your dog’s biggest life milestones and one that has a significant impact on their general health is the switch from three to two meals per day.
When to introduce a puppy to two meals per day will help put your dog on the path to growing up to be a content and healthy adult.
When my dog was a puppy, I received conflicting advice regarding how frequently and how much he should eat. Some said once a day, others advised twice a day.
Even more, I was instructed to always keep the bowl full and allow my dog to eat whenever he wants (we did this with our first puppy, Linus, because he pretended to graze).
I’ll be honest, none of this made sense, and I didn’t want to jeopardize my dog’s health and welfare because of what other people thought.
I’ve discovered that puppies are similar to human babies in that they benefit from regular schedules and need several smaller meals throughout the day.
While each dog is different, all puppies should begin with four meals per day and gradually reduce that number to two over the course of the first year of life.
In this article, I’ll explain the significance of a regular feeding schedule and when to give a puppy two meals per day. Learn everything you need to know about your puppy’s dietary requirements by reading on.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: Purina Pro Plan Puppy Large Breed Formula is currently being fed to our guide dog pups. Remember that the majority of our guide dogs are larger breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds. This dog food may not be best for your pup.
Food for Big Puppies & Little Puppies
The nutritional requirements of small- and large-breed dogs differ, and this is particularly true for puppies. Small-breed dogs are adult dogs weighing less than 20 pounds. These puppies mature quickly and might do so in just nine months. Large-breed puppies (weighing 20 pounds or more) mature more slowly, taking between 15 and 24 months to reach their full size and maturity.
Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food?
Premium dog food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles; the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.
The major dog food manufacturers make significant investments in product development and research, constantly modifying their recipes to stay competitive. Thus, consuming premium food puts you at the forefront of canine nutrition.
Rule Three: Don’t overfeed
Nowadays, we know that puppies should be kept slim. Getting too fat or growing too quickly can have negative health effects.
The best way to determine whether you are feeding your puppy too much or not enough food is not by looking at the scales. It is through looking and touching.
Your puppy’s ribs ought to be able to be felt but not seen. He ought to have a distinct slope from his belly to his groin when he stands.
Manufacturers’ suggested serving sizes on packets can serve as a good benchmark or starting point. But you must regularly assess your particular puppy and make necessary adjustments.
Try feeding your puppy’s kibble in a slow-feed bowl if he attempts to communicate that he is starving hungry at the end of each meal. He will take longer to consume it, but he will take pleasure in it more.
FAQ
What time should I stop feeding my puppy at night?
Avoid feeding your puppy three hours before bedtime, and try to avoid giving them any water in the final hour or so. This should elongate the time he sleeps through the night.
What time should a puppy eat before bed?
Feeding and watering Aim to feed your puppy about three hours before their anticipated bedtime. This will give them enough time to properly digest it and use the restroom if necessary. If you feed your puppy after this time, it might wake up in the middle of the night needing to use the bathroom.
How late is too late to feed dog?
As a general rule, it’s not advisable to feed a dog a couple of hours before bedtime unless they will be exercising soon. Even so, you should really wait two hours after eating before exercising your dog to lower the risk of twisted gut.
Can a puppy go 8 hours without eating?
Puppies, unlike older dogs, don’t have fat reserves. Therefore, they can’t go longer than 12 hours without food. This is especially true for toy breeds because blood sugar drops, or hypoglycemia, can cause serious complications. Puppies are also more susceptible to dehydration than older dogs.